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    The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr
    The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr
    The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr
    Ebook47 pages22 minutes

    The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr

    By Ebenezer Cooke

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    In "The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr," Ebenezer Cooke presents a satirical depiction of colonial America through the lens of a young Englishman, Ebenezer Cook, who embarks on a journey to Maryland. This picaresque narrative employs a rich, playful literary style characterized by hearty humor, verisimilitude, and a nuanced exploration of the socio-political dynamics of the late 17th century. The poem not only highlights the stark contrasts between life in England and the precariousness of colonial existence, but it also serves as a biting commentary on the shortcomings of society and the human condition, positioning it firmly in the context of Restoration literature and emerging American identity. Cooke, an English poet who lived from 1660 to 1735, drew upon his own experiences and observations as a young man navigating a new land. His insights into the colonial experience were profoundly influenced by the flux of identity and societal expectations prevalent during his time. By infusing his work with autobiographical elements, Cooke crafted a narrative that is both personal and universally relevant. His sharp wit and keen observation reveal much about the formative years of early American society. "The Sot-weed Factor" is highly recommended for readers interested in the interplay of humor and satire in literature, as well as those seeking an engaging exploration of colonial life. Through its clever writing and profound reflections, the book invites readers to ponder the intricacies of identity, belonging, and morality in a rapidly transforming world.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSharp Ink
    Release dateApr 12, 2024
    ISBN9788028365349
    The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr

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      Book preview

      The Sot-weed Factor - Ebenezer Cooke

      Ebenezer Cooke

      The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr

      Sharp Ink Publishing

      2024

      Contact: [email protected]

      ISBN 9788028365349

      Table of Contents

      Cover

      Titlepage

      Text

      The Laws, Government, Courts and Constitutions of the Country, and also the Buildings, Feasts, Frolicks, Entertainments and Drunken Humours of the Inhabitants of that Part of America.

      In Burlesque Verse.

      By Eben. Cook, Gent.

      LONDON:

      Printed and Sold by D. Bragg, at the Raven in Pater-Noster-Row. 1708. (Price 6d.)

      iiiaa (9K)

      e have no means of knowing the history of Master Ebenezer Cook, Gentleman, who, one hundred and forty-six years ago, produced the Sot-Weed Factor's Voyage to Maryland. He wrote, printed, published, and sold it in London for sixpence sterling, and then disappeared forever. We do not know certainly that Mr. Cook himself was the actual adventurer who suffered the ills described by him in burlesque verse. Indeed, Eben: Cook, Gent. may be a myth—a nom de plume. Yet, there is a certain personal poignancy and earnestness about the whole Story that almost forbid the idea of a secondhand narrative. Nay, I think it extremely probable that it was Eben: Cook, Gent. or, some other equally afflicted gentleman assuming that name, who—

      "Condemn'd by Fate to wayward Curse,

      Of Friends unkind and empty purse,"—

      fled from his native land to become a Sot-Weed factor in America.[1]

      The adventures and manners described are ludicrous and certainly very unpolished. Although Mr. Cook calls his poem "A Satyr," there is, in his account of early habits in Maryland, so much resemblance to what we observe in the rude society of all new settlements, that it is possible the story is not so much a Satire as a hightened description of what an unlucky traveler found in certain quarters of the colony, Anno Domini, 1700. When

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